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You know that feeling where you start to feel aggravated with others or anxious internally because you have too much to do and too little time? How do you handle that moment?

When it comes to planning our weeks and stewarding our time/responsibilities, here are some helpful and simple tips when you feel overwhelmed.

1. Declutter your head

One of the main causes of anxiety in us is open loops that keep going in circles within us because we have not got them out of our heads and into a place that we feel confident we will remember to follow through on them. So write them on a piece of paper or our weekly planning tool, and prioritize them. Half the battle is just getting incomplete tasks and responsibilities out of your head.

2. Come up with a plan

One we get those tasks or responsibilities that are pressing into us onto paper or our organizing tool, then we have to come up with a plan. Prioritize the list and put the tasks into your calendar so you can see everything in a place. This will give you encouragement when you see everything listed out and planned.

3. Delegate

We get more done by giving stuff away, but sometimes this is hard because it feels like a risk. Will it be done right? Will it be done completely? Will it be done in the way we want it to? If we trust others, believe in them and give clear vision, the next step is to delegate. Give more away and get more done. If we don’t trust and empower others, we just limited how far we will go as a leader.

4. Stop the Crazy Cycle

If you feel overwhelmed week in and week out you must choose to stop the cycle. Don’t point the finger outside of yourself. You can say no. Many times the answer is delegation, reforming our work flow, and having a plan at the start of each day. We can waste much time because we are reactive instead of proactive in our purposefulness and planning. Start the day with a plan, even if that plan gets thrown out the window quickly. If you continually are feeling stressed out, track your hours and your tasks for a week and see what you learn. Where are you wasting time? Where are you excelling? What do you want to do differently?

5. Honor Your Limitations

When we blow past our limitations by saying yes to too much, we are left tired, frustrated and disillusioned. We stop believing in our life or organizational mission and our energy levels will get depleted quickly. We cannot live in the red zone and operate in fifth gear forever. When we honor our limitations and seek to thrive in every aspect of our lives with balance, we find that we live with greater joy and peace. Work isn’t the enemy. God created you and part of that creation story is to work and cultivate. The real enemy to watch out for is us, making an idol out of work, success, approval or our children. By living in our limits we end up living a full and joyful life. This was and is still sometimes one of my own greatest challenges. When you are motivated and passionate, this seems counter-intuitive. If you never stop the car, you will run out of gas eventually.

Sometimes you need an outside voice. At Multiplyleaders we provide leadership coaching so you can live each week with power, focus and effectiveness.

After we start with vision, the next step before we do anything else is to remind ourselves of the 6 most important focuses we need to give our attention, energy and calendar to in the next two months to fulfill the vision. If we don’t move from vision to our six focuses (6 focuses x 6 weeks), we will likely give our attention to what is urgent without discerning how to implement into the week what we have identified as essential in the community/ministry development.

Our 6×6 may look like a variety of different themes, but the key is they MUST BE THE 6 MOST SIGNIFICANT HINGS YOU MUST DO TO FULFILL THE VISION.

Here are some example 6×6 Focuses| They may be personal or relate to a team/organization

Develop leadership team

Spend time on leadership team

Promote camps

Identify 2-3 people to mentor

Communicate with more clarity by preparing better

Spend more time listening and understanding others before I speak

Communicate with leaders every Tuesday

Everyone’s 6×6’s will look differently, but the key is they most be the most important focuses that will help fulfill the vision. Otherwise, your vision and your weekly schedule will be out of sync. If you pray, reflect and seek God to identify the vision he has for you and if you pray, reflect and seek God as you plan your week, you can rest that these 6 things need to be prioritized.

Once you have identified those 6 things, they must be included in your prayer life and also your calendar must be clearly integrated with them. Its not enough to identify the 6 things you must do in the next 6 weeks. Without discipline to put them in your rhythm of life/schedule, you will not get traction. Once you complete one of the 6 don’t add to it until you fulfill at least 3 of the 6 you started with, otherwise you might not finish the original six in the time you need to. Get clarity around the 6 and then give yourself to them with confidence because you reminded yourself of the vision and have sought God’s direction in the process.

I have created a tool to help you thrive as a ministry leader. If you already have a system that helps you start with vision, then keep working it and filling yourself with the WHY before you do anything else. If you don’t have a tool click on the link below. The tool is $2. If you like the tool please pass the link on to other leaders who might benefit. If you know a missionary or a church leader internationally or a leader who can’t afford any resources, then pass on the link and also this pass-code that will make it free to them.

Pass-code for missionaries, international church leaders and under resourced pastors: ”multiply”

For most of my ministry leadership I have made the mistake of rushing into the week, responding to the immediate requests and upcoming responsibilities. I would jump in trying to get an edge on my week to keep up with the rush of information, requests and needs. Unfortunately, jumping to your week is the wrong move. You must lead yourself before you lead others.

Leading ourselves as ministry leaders means reminding ourselves and drinking from the vision before we seek to tackle anything else. Every week we must soak ourselves in our own vision, a vision that should be rooted in the good news of Jesus and should inspire and motivate. Too many times we fail to understand that passion is a choice. We choose to fill ourselves and feed ourselves and to keep a sustainable pace. There will be many competing visions and demands that will distract and detour us from the role and ministry God has called us to do if we don’t start with remembering the WHY. The WHY puts the fuel in the tank. Is your tank filled?

6 Reasons we need to start with vision.

Vision reminds us of God’s mission

Vision reminds us it is God’s mission

Vision reminds us of our identity and calling

Vision keeps us inspired in the weekly tasks, challenges and failures

Vision keeps us focused in the midst of many good things

Our teams, communities and families are starved for vision

Here is my encouragement to you as ministry leader, something I would tell myself twelve years ago when I started ministry if I could. Take the first 1-2 hours of your week to remind yourself of the vision, drink from the gospel and invite God to give you discernment as you look at your week. Starting with vision before we respond to one phone call or do one task…reminding ourselves what God has called us to and why it is meaningful will transform our leadership.

I have created a tool to help you thrive as a ministry leader. If you already have a system that helps you start with vision, then keep working it and filling yourself with the WHY before you do anything else. If you don’t have a tool click on the link below. The tool is $2. If you like the tool please pass the link on to other leaders who might benefit. If you know a missionary or a church leader internationally or a leader who can’t afford any resources, then pass on the link and also this pass-code that will make it free to them.

Pass-code for missionaries, international church leaders and under resourced pastors: “multiply”

Do you desire to grow as a ministry leader in your communication? Do you feel like you haven’t reached your full potential, but want to keep progressing? At MultiplyLeaders we love helping leaders begin ministry with the right resources, attitudes, habits and perspectives to flourish for the long-haul. We also find joy in helping stuck leaders unlock their potential in Jesus’ name.

I am excited to point you to our newest resource as we seek to resource, coach and equip leaders to their full potential.

Click on this link for more information about the bundle so you can grow to your potential as a communicator.